Fastener for securing hinged window panels



June 13, 1961 R. G. KRAMER FASTENER FOR SECURING HINGED WINDOW PANELS Filed Oct. 6, 1958 Ray 5: 16244452,

IN V EN TOR.

2,988,390 FASTENER FOR SECURING HINGED WINDOW PANELS Roy G. Kramer, 1527 W. Veiar St., Pomona, Klalif. Filed Oct. 6, 1958, Ser. No. 765,607 3 Claims. (Cl. 292-288) This invention relates to a novel fastener or clip for use with window easements or frames having hinged panels therein; more particularly, it relates to a clip or fastener for securing a hinged panel in closed position in a window casement or frame during shipping and installation of the frame and during glazing and painting operations.

The fastener or clip of the present invention has utility with prefabricated easements or frames having hinged panels, such easements being adapted for installation as a unit in building construction. After a casement is installed, a manually operable catch is installed on a transverse member of the casement and is adapted to cooperate with a lug on the hinged panel for the purpose of securing the hinged panel in closed position.

There has long been a problem in the prior art of securing the hinged panel in closed position during shipment, installation, glazing and painting of window easements of the type hereinbefore described. It is not desirable that the permanent manually operated catch be installed prior to shipment and installation of the casement or frame. The catch would extend outward from the case ment and special packaging would therefore be required. The catch might easily be damaged during shipment. If it were installed originally, the manual catch would complicate handling and installation, and it would interfere with glazing and painting. The hinged panel must be secured during shipment in order to facilitate packing and to prevent the hinged panel fromopening. It is desired that the hinged panel be secured during installation, because if it were free to swing it would obviously interfere with the work of installation. It is also desirable that the hinged panel be secured during glazing and painting of the casement.

Heretofore, various cumbersome and inefficient procedures have been adopted for the temporary securing of hinged panels. Among these are the use of a cord or string secured about adjacent frame and panel members. Metal bands and various types of wrappers have been disposed about adjacent frame and panel members. These approaches to the problem have been inefficient, time consuming, tedious and often involve the use of relatively expensive items for securing. They have proved particularly impractical during installation of glass panels, glazing and painting, because any wrapper, cord or band disposed about adjacent panel and frame members must be removed before these operations can be formed. The hinged panel thus is unsecured and much of the purpose of the securing means is defeated.

The present invention provides .a fastener or clip which is formed as a small unit of plastic or comparable material. The fastener has a base which is adapted to slidably engage the surface adjacent to a slot in a transverse member of a window casement; the fastener has a resilient clip portion extendable through the slot into position for engaging or being clipped over a lug, which is normally engaged by a manually operated catch. The fastener is positioned relative to the slot with the clip portion extending through the slot, and is moved along the slot until the clip portion engages the lug. The hinged panel is thus secured in closed position during shipping, installation and other operations. When it is desired to unsecure the hinged panel, the fastener is merely moved along the slot to nnclip the fastener from the lug. Being quite inexpensive, the fastener may then be discarded.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an' ice extremely convenient, eflicient and economical solution for the foregoing problems.

An object of this invention is the provision of a disposable fastener or clip for seeming the hinged panel of a casement window in closed position during shipping, installation and glazing of the easement window.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fastener or clip for temporary use in securing the hinged panel of a casement window, which fastener can be so economically fabricated that it may be discarded after use.

Other objects and features of the present invention, in addition to many advantages thereof, will become ap parent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a window casement of a type with which the present invention is adapted to be used;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the structure of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed sectional view taken at line 3--3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed sectional view taken at line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 and at line 4-4 of FIGURE 1, showing a fastener of the present invention in position for securing the hinged panel in the easement of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the fastener of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a detailed sectional view taken at line 66 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the fastener of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to FIGURE 1, there is shown a type of metal window casement having a hinged panel of the general type with which the present invention is adapted to be utilized. The casement or frame 12 is rectangular in configuration and has an intermediate transverse member 14. The frame is of uniform cross section throughout, the cross-sectional configuration being shown in FIGURE 6. Outwardly disposed channels 16 and 18 extend around the periphery of the frame. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 6, these channels are defined by transverse 20 and .22, by outwardly extending .iianges 24, 26 and by a common flange 28.

The channel structure extends around the frame periphery to provide means for mounting the window casement in a building structure. Flanges 24, 28 extend inwardly beyond rim 20, as shown, and cooperate with the rim to form an inner channel 30. The transverse member 14 of the frame is shown in cross-section in FIGURE 4. Arib 32 extends transverselybetween'flanges 34 and 36.

A rectangular window panel 38 is adapted to fit within the frame 12 and is hinged thereto by means of pivotal connections between brackets 40 on the panel and brackets 42 on rib 24 of the frame, as shown in FIGURE 6. .As illustrated in FIGURES 4 .and 6, n transverse-rib -44 interconnects flanges 46 and 48, which extend different distances from the rib.

A panel 38 is adapted to seat against frame 12, as indicated in FIGURE 6, flanges 46 and 48 of the panel abutting flanges 24 and 28, respectively, of the frame. With the hinged panel in closed position, FIGURE 4, its flanges 46 and 4S abut flanges 36 and 34, respectively, of transverse frame member 14.

A preferred form of fastener or clip 50 of the present invention is shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5. A bracket 52 is attached by screws to the rib 44 of panel 38, as indicated in FIGURE 4. The bracket has a pair of lugs 54, [these lugs being curved in cross-sectional configuration. Lug 54 is normally engaged by a manually operated catch (shown in phantom outline in FIGURE 3) for the purpose of securing the hinged panel in closed position relative to the window casement. The catch is installed adjacent to an elongated slot 56 in the rib 36 of transverse frame member 14, and extends through the slot into engagement with lug 54. The handle portion of the catch extends outward from the member 14.

The preferred embodiment of the clip or fastener 50 of the present invention has a base portion 6! having transverse cylindrical foot portions 62 at its ends, which are adapted for engagement with the surface adjacent to the slot 56. A curved neck portion 64 extends from the base, as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5, and is adapted to extend through slot 56. A curved clip portion 66 is formed integrally with the neck portion 64 and is adapted by its curvature to be clipped or resiliently snapped over correspondingly curved lug 54. At the outer end of clip portion 66 is a rounded portion or knob 68 which assists in retaining the fastener on the lug. The fastener may be fabricated of plastic or other material having sufficient resiliency, such as high imp-act styrene.

From the foregoing description, the operation and practical utility of the fastener of this invention will be ap preciated and understood by those skilled in the art. Prior to packaging the window casement for shipment, the clip 50 is positioned, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, with its base portion engaging the surface adjacent to slot 56 and with clip portion 66 extending through the slot, as shown. By sliding the fastener along the slot, the clip portion is snapped or clipped over lug 54, as indicated in FIGURE 3. The hinged panel is thereby secured firmly in closed position until it is desired to release after installation in a building. The fastener is removed or released by sliding it along the slot 56 to disengage it from the lug 54. Because of its extremely inexpensive construction, the fastener may be discarded.

In FIGURE 7 there is shown a modified form of the fastener of the present invention, wherein a base portion 70 is formed in a simple rectangular configuration. The surfaces of base "70 are slidable on the surface of transverse member 14 adjacent to slot 56.

Those versed in the art readily will recognize that the device of the present invention avoids and eliminates the problems and disadvantages of the prior art devices and methods hereinbefore mentioned. The great practical utility of the fastener will be appreciated from the foregoing discussion. The device has the advantages of being extremely small, inexpensive and convenient to install and remove. The convenience and savings of time effected by the fastener of this invention are great in relation to the simplicity and economy of the device. The fastener provides a high degree of reliability in securing the hinged panel despite vibration and shock. The resilient material of the fastener precludes scratching or marring of the surface finish of the hinged panel and frame.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same are by way of illustration and example only; it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto, as many variations will be readily apparent to those versed in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the scope of the appended claims.

The inventor claims:

1. For use with a window casement having a hinged panel engaging a casement member having a slot therein adapted for receiving a manually operable catch engageable with lug means on the panel, a shipping and installing fastener for securing the hinged panel in closed position prior to installation of said catch, said fastener comprising base means engaging said casement member adjacent to the slot, and a resilient clip portion integral with the base means and extending through the slot, said base means having surfaces slidable along said casement member adjacent to the slot for engaging said resilient clip portion with said lug means to secure said hinged panel in closed position on the window casement, said clip portion being conformed to clip over and retain said lug upon being slid along the easement member.

2. For use with a window casement having a hinged panel engaging a casement member having a slot therein adapted for receiving a manually operable catch engageable with lug means on the panel, a fastener of resilient plastic for temporary substitution for said catch for securing the hinged panel in closed position, said fastener comprising base means engaging with the surface of said casement member adjacent to the slot, and a resilient clip portion integral with the base means and extending through the slot, said clip portion being contoured to snap over said lug means and having a knob at its end for retaining the fastener on the lug means, said base means having surfaces slidable along said surface for engaging said clip portion with said lug means to secure the hinged panel in closed position on the window casement, and said clip portion being shaped to be linearly guided in said slot.

3. A shipping and installing fastener for a window frame having a hinged panel therein, said fastener comprising a base portion having laterally extending parts engageable with surfaces adjacent to a slot in a transverse frame member, said slot being adapted to accommodate a manually operated catch for engaging a lug on the hinged panel, a curved neck portion shaped to extend through said slot and to be guided thereby, and a curved clip portion shaped to be clipped over the lug on the hinged panel, said clip portion and said lug having complementary curved surfaces, said clip portion being conformed to be slidable along said slot to a position wherein said clip portion may be snapped over the lug to firmly secure the hinged panel in closed position on the window frame, and said fastener being slidable along the slot in the opposite direction to release said hinged panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,867,156 Jackson July 12, 1932 1,941,432 Doering Dec. 26, 1933 2,150,497 Fernberg Mar. 14, 1939 2,291,219 Fontecilla July 28, 1942 2,527,151 Rabasse et al Oct. 24, 1950 2,620,809 Rosen Dec. 9, 1952 

